How I get stuff for free....

Since Brian has been chronically unemployed, I've gone back to my first love: couponing for free things.

Here is a picture of a recent haul. Most of this was either completely free, less than $1.00 or they paid me to take it. The girls get the list I generate from The Grocery Game and then sit down to cut coupons. This takes 45 minutes a week.







This mostly works for household items but I get great deals on food too. Since we make most of our meals from scratch, I ignore the convenience food. The kids love cereal and so I stock up when I can get it for less than $2.00 for 15 oz. Right now I'm spending $1.00 - $1.50 at Albertsons for some cereal which makes the girls happy.

I used to match up ads with the coupons on my own and it took a few hours. The Grocery Game does that for me know so it saves time. I would recommend it! She gives out a trial for $1.00 so it's worth it to try it. Be sure to start saving a few weeks of Sunday paper ads before you start, otherwise you will not be able to do many deals.

Oh and if you go to sign up, you can use my email address : amy shearer @ alittle busy .com and I can get some weeks free!

It's my birthday...

Today I am 34 and proud of it. I love being in my 30's. To celebrate, Brian and I went to the DMV to renew our driver's licenses. Oh what fun, oh what joy. We waited in line 10 minutes. I was called first and told the guy, "I need to renew my license."

"Okay," he said and looked at me expectantly. I looked back at him expectantly. *Blink, blink* Silence.

Finally I broke the ice. "What do you need from me?"

"Your license," he replied. Duh. I handed it over and answered all the questions. Because of 9-11, they are supposed to confirm your social security number before you can renew. He didn't ask me anything. Instead he pushed the computer screen in my direction and asked me to verify everything.

I did notice that they had my old pre-Ellie weight. Should I correct it? "Is everything correct?" he asked.

"Uh-huh" I replied. I'll get down to that weight again I figured. No need to correct it now.

"Okay," he said and gave me a knowing smile. Or more like a "yeah right" smile.

I proceeded to write the check for my renewal and put March 25, 1974, my birth date on it. Why, I don't know. I had to cross it out and write the correct date. He must have thought I was crazy.

Then I got my picture taken and waited for Brian to finish up. Like I said, fun times.

Later I gave Brian a coupon to go have the oil changed in his van. He pulled up and handed them the coupon. They looked at it and *blink, blink*.

"Am I at the right place?" Brian asked. Nope he wasn't. He pulled up to their rival. Ever the frugal guy, he asked if they would accept it anyway. Oh sure they could.

Brian relayed the story to me and I simply said "Dork."

"Well at least I knew what to do at the DMV." he replied. Touche... ;)